Automated foot bath apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

An automated cleaning system, where dairy cows pass through a foot bath region. The foot bath is periodically changed by implementing an agitation phase where high velocity water jets agitate the waste material in the foot bath and causes these to be discharged, followed by a drain phase where the liquid flows out an outlet. Then, a flushing phase removes the further debris, with the foot bath then being refilled with water and chemical disinfecting liquid for a subsequent cycle where another group of cows would pass through the foot bath region.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

Notice: More than one reissue application has been filed for the reissueof U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,286; the reissue applications are applicationSer. No. 11/439,542 (the instant reissue application) and Ser. No.11/960,289 (which is a divisional reissue application of U.S. Pat. No.6,739,286) that issued as U.S. Pat. No. RE42,247 on Mar. 29, 2011.

This application claims priority benefit of the provisional applicationsU.S. Serial No. 60/343,806, filed Dec. 26, 2001, and U.S. Serial No.60/358,438, filed Feb. 19, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a foot bath for animals, such as dairycows and more particularly to an automated foot bath apparatus andmethod which accomplishes not only the application of disinfectant tothe hooves of the animals, but also accomplishes the cleaning andrefilling of the liquid containing area of the foot bath.

b) Background Art

In a dairy parlor it is common to have the cows exiting the dairy parlorwalk through a foot bath of approximately six feet by two and two-thirdsfeet and a depth of approximately six inches. This foot bath would havedisinfectant that is dissolved in the water. The common prior artprocedure is that there would be the area having a small pool whichcontains the water. The dairyman uses a hose to fill the pool with thewater, and then pours the disinfectant chemical liquid and/or powderinto the water and mixes these in the pool manually.

During the course of the cows moving through the foot bath, a certainamount of manure will commonly collect in the foot bath. After themilking operation is completed (i.e. all the cows have gone through forthat particular milking period), then the dairyman will open the drainvalve so that all the liquid flows out. Then the dairyman will hose themanure down the drain.

A search of the patent literature has disclosed a number of U.S.patents. These are as follows:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,909 (Stable) discloses a foot bath for the use inthe treatment of cattle and other livestock. There is a resilient padwhich is covered with a shallow layer of disinfectant fluid. As the cowsteps on the pad, the fluid flows around the foot.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,379 (Gerk et al.) discloses what is called an“electrically controlled spraying device for cleaning and treatinganimals”. There are rails around an enclosure and discharge nozzlesmounted to spray a cleaning fluid or a treatment fluid under the animal,and it states that the device is able to clean the hooves of the animal.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,224 (Hintz et al.) discloses a foot bathing fixturethat includes a seat supported on a raised pedestal. This isincorporated into a shower enclosure for a person.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,536 (Midkiff) discloses a portable a truck tirewashing apparatus. There are two longitudinally-spaced tire rotatingdriveable roller trailer assemblies mounted on a support member and aliquid spraying means for spraying the tires.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,228,554 (Tumminaro) shows a toilet for animalsparticularly adapted for pets such as dogs and cats. There is a userplatform on which the animal stands, and the platform has an uppersurface which is gradually inclined down on shallow angle toward acenter opening of the toilet. A flushing liquid is provided to flow overthe surface to clean the waste material from the upper surface, and abowl is located beneath the upper platform to receive the waste.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,989,965 (Rod) discloses a “foot wear decontaminatingapparatus” for use in the atomic industry. The user steps on a platformimmersed in a fluid, and a high frequency agitator washes off thecontaminating material.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,956,565 (Anderson) discloses therapeutic equipment forremedial bathing and massaging treatment of feet and legs of animals.There is a container filled with granular solids such as soft, cleansand possibly 104 inches long, 42 inches wide and 18 inches high tocontain the granular material. The racing horse, for example, is broughtto stand with all feet in the soft wet bed and is permitted to sink to adepth somewhere between the ankle and knee height. Heat that could beapplied to alleviate the soreness of the animal.

U.S. Pat. No. 853,533 (Byrd) shows a foot bath intended to be occupiedby horses as they drink from the attached water trough. There is a drainto keep the water at the desired depth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system, apparatus, and method whichcan be automated, in whole and in part, as a foot bath system foranimals. The present invention is particularly adapted for use in adairy parlor where a smaller or much larger number of cows pass througha foot bath after the completion of a milking operation. Within thebroader scope of the present invention, this invention could be used forother animals, particularly animals having similar situations or needsas milk cows.

In the system of the present invention, there is a foot bath structurehaving a front wall, a rear wall, two side walls, and a floor. The footbath structure defines a liquid containing region comprising a frontcontaining area and a rear containing area. This foot bath structure isarranged to permit the animals to walk over the floor and through thefoot bath in the liquid containing region.

The system further comprises a water inlet section arranged to supplyliquid to said liquid containing region, and to supply at least aportion of the water so as to be directed into the front watercontaining area as high velocity jet flow to be able to cause a flowpattern in the liquid containing region of any current flow, turbulentflow, or a combination of any current flow and turbulent flow. This isable to accomplish the moving of waste material in the liquid containingregion.

There is a discharge section which is at the rear containing area andwhich has a closed configuration in the liquid containing region, and anopen configuration to discharge liquid in the liquid containing region.

A chemical supply section is provided to provide a quantity of chemicalcomponents as an ingredient in a foot bath liquid for the liquidcontaining region.

A control section is arranged:

-   -   i) to cause the water inlet section to operate in a time frame        to supply water to the liquid containing region to cause said        high velocity jet flow pattern, thus to move waste material in        the liquid containing region, and also to provide water as a        constituent for the foot bath water in said liquid;    -   ii) to cause said discharge section to selectively move between        the closed and open configuration to contain liquid or permit an        outflow of liquid in the liquid containing region; and    -   iii) to cause said chemical supply section to provide said        quantity of the chemical component for the foot bath liquid.

In the preferred embodiment, the control section is arranged to operatein a cycle of operation through at least an agitation phase where thewater inlet supplies water as a high velocity jet flow to move wastematerial in the liquid containing region, and for at least part of timethat the high velocity jet flow takes place, the discharge section iscaused to be in its open configuration to enable liquid in the liquidcontaining region with waste material carried thereon to be dischargedfrom the liquid containing region.

More specifically, there is in the cycle, a draining phase, where theflow of high velocity of liquid jet water is at least reduced orstopped, and the outlet section is in its open configuration, followedby the flushing phase where the liquid outlet section is in its openconfiguration, and the water inlet section is discharging water withhigh velocity jet flow to cause removal of waste material from theliquid containing region. Then, there is a filling phase that can becombined with the chemical injection for a filling and chemicalinjection phase.

The chemical component is injected in the preferred form as a chemicalliquid into the water that is provided for the liquid containing region.In a preferred form this is directed into the water along with the highvelocity jet flow taking place.

In preferred form, there are at least first and second water inletopenings spaced laterally from one another to direct water at the highvelocity flow. The foot bath structure is arranged so that the liquidcontaining region has a front to rear longitudinal axis and a transverseaxis, and the liquid containing region has a length dimension along thelongitudinal axis greater than a width along the transverse axis. Thetwo inlet openings of the water section are positioned at the front wallof the foot bath structure, facing generally in a rearward directiontoward the rear wall, and being spaced laterally from one another onopposite sides of the longitudinal center axis. Thus, the two inletopenings cause water streams to travel on opposite sides of thelongitudinal axis and have a return flow path in an eddy current flow ina forward direction at a location closer to the longitudinal centeraxis.

The water inlet section has a third liquid inlet that is positionedbetween the first and second liquid inlets, and nearer to thelongitudinal center axis. The third inlet opening directs a third flowof water in a generally longitudinally aligned direction.

More specifically, the third inlet opening has a generally laterallyaligned slot-like configuration to discharge water in a laterallyexpanding pattern toward the flow streams generated by the first andsecond high velocity jet flows from the first and second jet openings.

In another embodiment, there may be two additional inlet openings of thewater inlet section which discharge water at a high velocity jet flowmode into the liquid containing region.

In a preferred form, the first and second inlet openings are spaced fromthe longitudinally center axis of the foot bath at least a quarter of adistance between the longitudinal center axis and an adjacent outer endportion of the front wall, and in a more preferred embodiment at leastapproximately the adjacent outer edge of the front wall.

The high velocity flow of the two jets forming the high velocity liquidjet flow, is at least two feet per second, and could range in valuesfrom 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 feet per second.

The control system comprises a clock component having operativeconnections to at least three components or combination of components,and in turn provide timing for the activation of the water inletsection, the discharge section, and the chemical supply section to causethese to operate.

As an alternative, the control section could comprise a micro-computerto control the operation of the water inlet section. The computer couldbe programmed so as to cause various phase or phases of the cycle of thesystem to occur at different times, such as for example, causing anagitating and flushing action between the cycles.

The present invention also comprises a method, and the steps of thismethod are readily understood from reviewing the above-noted descriptionof the operation of the system. Further, the present invention comprisesthe apparatus utilized in the system and particularly adapted for use inthis invention. Other features will become apparent from the followingdetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view illustrating the cows moving from the milkingparlor through a pathway in which the apparatus of the present inventionis located, and outwardly therefrom;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the foot bath structure used in thesystem of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating isometrically the foot bath structure, andalso illustrating schematically a simplified representation of thecontrol and pumping system of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the front portion of the foot bath structurewith the cover of the front wall removed, and showing portions of thewater inlet system and the liquid chemical inlet system;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of the middle wateroutlet;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a rear end portion of the bath structurewith the cover removed, and showing the outlet valve system;

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8;and

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the control system of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view showing a second embodiment of the presentinvention where there are additional inlet openings positioned at theside walls of the foot bath structure;

FIG. 12 shows a third embodiment where there are two selectivelyoperated discharge outlets at the liquid outlet section;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the foot bath structure showing thepattern of eddy currents which are generated in the first embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is particularly adapted for use in a milkingparlor where the cows which have just been milked walk through a footbath containing disinfectant and possibly other ingredients, and in thefollowing description, the apparatus and method of the present inventionwill be described in the context of use in a dairy parlor. However,within the broader scope of the present invention, it may be possible touse the apparatus and method of the present invention in situationswhere a similar cleaning/disinfecting operation must be performed on thehooves or lower extremities of some other type of animal.

Reference is first made to FIG. 1 which shows schematically a top planview of an exit portion 10 of a milking parlor where the cows 12 are ledinto an inlet area 14 and move along a pathway 16 to the outlet 18.Normally, the pathway 16 would be confined in some manner, such ashaving a wall on one side (e.g., four to five feet high), and possiblypiping or other items or structure on the opposite side.

Positioned in the pathway 16 is the apparatus 20 of the presentinvention. The apparatus 20 comprises a foot bath structure 22 thatcomprises a front wall 24, a rear wall 26, two side walls 28, and afloor 30. The foot bath structure 22 is a rigid structure and can bemade, for example, of stainless steel. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the foot bathstructure 22 is shown separately from other components of the apparatusfor purposes of illustration. The inside surfaces of the four walls24-28 define the perimeter of a liquid containing region 32 to containthe foot bath liquid which would normally comprise water havingdisinfectant chemicals dissolved therein.

To facilitate the description of the apparatus of the present invention,the foot bath structure 22 can be considered as having a longitudinalcenter axis 34, a transverse axis 36, and a vertical axis 38.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the floor 30 has a moderate downward slopefrom the front wall 24 to the rear wall 26, which could be, for example,about a change of two inches in elevation from the location of the frontwall 24 to the rear wall 26. Overall, the vertical dimension of theinner surface 40 of the front wall 24 may be about six inches, while theinner surface 42 of the rear wall 26 could be eight inches. Typically,the inside dimensions of this liquid containing region 32 would be suchthat the lengthwise dimension is about twice the width dimension, with,for example, the lengthwise dimension being about six to six and a halffeet in length, and the width about thirty-two to thirty-four inches inwidth.

There is a rubber mat 44 positioned on the upper surface 46 of the floor30. This mat 44 prevents the cows from slipping, and also provides acertain amount of comfort so that the cows are not walking over a metalsurface.

It can be seen that both the front wall 24 and the rear wall 26 eachhave a cross-sectional configuration of a rectangle, this being done sothat these can contain certain components which are described laterherein. At the forward end of the foot bath structure 22 there is aliquid inlet section 48, which in turn is made up of a water inletsection 50 and a chemical liquid section 52 (the term “chemical liquid”refers to the liquid that contains the disinfectant chemicals andpossibly other chemical additives to accomplish various functions, andthese are simply referred to as “liquid chemical” or “the chemicals”).

At the rear end of the foot bath structure 22 (see FIGS. 7-9) there isthe outlet section 54 at which the liquid in the liquid containingregion 32, along with any waste material in the region 32, is dischargedfrom the liquid containing region 32. This outlet section comprises adischarge valve section 56 which will be described in greater detaillater herein. As used herein, the term “waste material” shall includethe manure and other material that should desirably be removed from thefoot bath structure.

To describe now the water inlet section 50, reference is made to FIGS. 5and 6. FIG. 6 is an elevational view looking horizontally at the innersurface 40 of the front wall 24. There are shown three water inletopenings, namely two side openings 58 and 60, and a center opening 62.Water is supplied to these openings 58-62 through a main pipe 64 whichleads into three branch outlet pipes 66, 68, and 70 which supply waterto, respectively, the outlet openings 58, 60, and 62. The side openings58 and 60, each have a circular cross-sectional configuration which inthis preferred embodiment have an inside diameter of one-half inch.Likewise, the two feed pipes 66 and 68 also have a one-half inch insidediameter, and these openings 58 and 60 can be considered as extensionsof these pipes 66 and 68.

The inlet opening 70 has a somewhat different configuration, and thiscan better be seen by viewing FIG. 7. The branch pipe 70 leads into asmall chamber 72 which is defined by a small dome-shaped cover 74 whichis formed in a spherical curve. This cover 74 is formed with ahorizontal slot 76 which in this particular embodiment has a length ofabout two inches and a width dimension of about one-sixteenth inch. Withthe domelike cover 74 being curved in the configuration of a sphericalcurve, the slot opening 76 curves in a circular arc of about two-thirdsof a right angle. Thus, the liquid that is discharged from the slotopening 76 is in a fan-like configuration, and is, with respect to itsvertical dimension, rather thin, and in a horizontal direction expandslaterally and outwardly. With the three openings 58-62 being fed from asingle pipe 64, the water which is directed into the line 64 flowsthrough a single control valve indicated schematically at 78 in FIG. 6.

The spacing of the inlet openings 58-62 is that each side opening 58/60is located about half-way between the center of the center opening 62and the adjacent side wall 28, but the openings 58/60 could be closer tothe side walls 28.

The aforementioned chemical liquid section comprises two liquid chemicalinlet openings 80 which are positioned a short distance below an upperedge 81 of the front wall 40. Each opening 80 is fed by a respectivepipe 82, these two pipes 82 being shown in FIG. 5.

Each pipe 82 is connected to a respective liquid chemical pump which areshown in HG. 4 as pump A and pump B, each of which draws its chemicalsfrom a respective chemical source Chem A and Chem B (also shown in FIG.4) by selectively operating one or the other of pump A and pump B, thedesired chemical Chem A and Chem B can be injected into the liquidcontaining region.

The reason for this is that it may be desirable to use one type ofchemical when the cows are directed through the foot bath apparatus 20one day of the week, and a different chemical used when the foot bathapparatus 20 is used on another day of the week.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 8 and 9 to describe the discharge section54. The discharge section 54 comprises a discharge opening 86 formed inthe inner wall portion of the rear wall 26. In this particularembodiment, this opening 86 is formed as a circular opening having aninside diameter of about four inches.

There is positioned in the interior of the structure of the rear wall 26a discharge valve 88. The valve 88 comprises a valve housing 90 which inturn has a valve element 92 which is mounted for reciprocating motion inthe housing 92, and which in FIG. 9 is in its retracted open position.During the operation of the system, the valve element 92 is normally inits closed position (i.e., urged toward its closed configuration). Whenthe valve 88 is actuated, the valve element 92 is retracted to theposition of FIG. 9 by a rod 94 which is powered by an air cylinder 96.As shown herein, the discharge opening 86 is located on the left side ofthe rear wall 26, and this is done primarily in this particularembodiment to accommodate the components of the valve 88. This dischargeopening 86 could be in different locations on the rear wall 26.Alternatively, there could be more than one discharge opening 86 atdifferent locations on the rear wall 26.

The basic operating system is designated 97 and is shown somewhatschematically in FIG. 4. There is a control box 98 which is shown inmore detail in FIG. 10 and which will be described in more detail laterin this text. The control box connects to the aforementioned pumps A andB which are (as indicated above) connected to the two chemical sourcesChem A and Chem B. to selectively direct the liquid chemicals fromeither Chem A or Chem B.

The control box also has an operative connection to the valve 78 whichis connected to a water supply to selectively direct the water to thepipes 66, 68, and 67, which in turn are connected to the three inletopenings 58, 60, and 62, respectively. Further, the control box 98 hasan operative connection to a solenoid valve 99 that is connected to anair supply source and selectively directs the air (e.g., at 40-80 psi)through one of the other of two air hoses to operate the aforementionedpneumatic cylinder 96.

To describe the method of the present invention, let us first reviewgenerally the usual dairy operation. The cows are milked twice daily,seven days a week, but chemical foot baths may be used possibly onlythree days a week, and we will assume that these three days are Monday,Wednesday, and Friday, and that the chemical baths would be used in theafternoon milking which would begin, for example, at 4:00 p.m.

After approximately 150-200 cows have walked through the foot bath, thedisinfectant liquid in the foot bath would be in condition where itshould be replaced by fresh water with fresh disinfectant chemicalstherein. Let us assume for the moment that there are 600 cows beingmilked, and that in a one-hour period on the average 150 cows would havepassed through the foot bath, and at the end of that hour, thedisinfecting water supply in the liquid containing region would have tobe flushed out and a fresh batch of water with the disinfectant is fedinto the liquid containing region 32. This would mean that there wouldbe four cycles of replenishing the disinfecting liquid water in theliquid containing region 32.

We will first take the situation where the liquid containing area 32 isalready filled with water having the disinfectant therein, and enoughcows have just passed through the foot bath (e.g., one hundred andfifty) so that it is time to remove the water and the waste materialcontained therein to start another cycle for the next 150 cows, afterwhich yet another cycle must start for the third group of 150 cows whichare to be directed through the foot bath.

In this situation, one complete cycle is made up of four operationperiods or phases. These are as follows:

-   -   i. Agitation phase;    -   ii. Draining phase;    -   iii. Flushing phase; and    -   iv. Water-fill and chemical injection phase.

Each of these operation phases will now be described in order.

-   -   a) The Agitating Phase        -   To begin the agitating phase, the water valve 78 is opened            to cause the water to flow through the three inlet openings            58, 60, and 62, and at the same time (or very shortly            thereafter) the valve 88 is operated to open the discharge            opening 86. The system is arranged so that the two side            inlet openings 58 and 60 discharge water at a greater            volumetric rate, and also at a higher discharge velocity            than the middle inlet opening 72. The calculated values for            the volume of water discharged from the two side openings 58            and 60 is a total of about twelve gallons per minute and at            a pressure of about 30 psi, the calculated exit velocity is            a little less than eight feet per second. Then, the water            flow from each of the openings 58 and 60 is in the form of a            high velocity water jet capable of forming active eddy            currents and some turbulence in the liquid in the liquid            containing region 32.        -   The flow of water through the central nozzle 68 has a            calculated value of about 2.6 gallons per minute at 30 psi,            and the exit velocity was calculated to about 3.3 feet per            second. This forms the aforementioned fan-shaped water jet            of somewhat lesser strength.        -   The effect of the placement of the inlet openings 58-62 and            the flow volume and velocities are such that the outside            openings 58 and 60, in conjunction with the middle opening            62, create an eddy current pattern in the foot bath. These            eddy currents add to the agitation in the entire liquid            containing region 32 and facilitate the cleaning of the            surface of the floor 30, as well as the inner surfaces of            the walls 24-28.        -   The effect of these eddy currents flowing in the region 32            is that the waste material (i.e., the manure and possibly            any other debris, such as mud, which may be in the liquid            containing region 32), is agitated and circulated in the            liquid containing region 32, reducing waste material to            smaller particle size, and causing the material to be            suspended in the water. With the water openings 58-62 being            located directly above, and very close to, the rubber mat 44            and facing in a rearward direction, and with the water flow            being closely adjacent to the upper surface of the rubber            mat 44 the cleaning effect is enhanced.        -   To disclose the pattern of the eddy currents in more detail,            reference is made to FIG. 13, which is a plan view of the            foot bath structure 22. The two primary initial flow paths            are the two streams of water indicated at 100 which are            emitted from the two inlet openings 58 and 60. These two            streams 100 produce two smaller eddy currents 102 that sweep            the front corner regions 104. At the same time, the            fan-shaped discharge of water 106 from the center inlet            opening 62 creates two yet smaller eddy currents 108 at the            front wall and adjacent to the primary flow streams 100.        -   As the flow streams 100 travel further downstream (i.e.,            toward the rear wall 26), these two streams 100 spread            laterally as indicated at 110. Present analysis indicates            that this is due, at least in part, to the effect of the            spreading fan-shaped flow stream 106 from the outlet 62. As            these two stream portions 110 move further rearwardly, they            reach the rear corner areas 112 and are redirected inwardly            and laterally toward a longitudinal center location and            result in eddy current flow paths 114 traveling toward the            forward wall 24. In the particular prototype of this            apparatus which was constructed, it has been observed that            these flow paths 114 travel upwardly approximately            two-thirds to three-quarters of the distance from the rear            wall to the front wall.        -   With these eddy current patterns being established, the            agitating action continues through the time span of the            agitating phase. In the preferred embodiment disclosed            herein, it has been found that a period of about fifty to            sixty seconds is satisfactory, but the time span of the            agitating phase can be varied. During the agitation phase,            as the water continues to flow in through the three inlet            openings 58-62, water is also passing out the discharge            opening 86, so there is a net downstream flow of liquid            toward the rear of the liquid containing region 32.        -   During the agitating phase, a substantial portion of the            manure and other debris (e.g., eighty percent) passes out            the discharge opening 86.    -   b) The Draining Phase        -   The draining phase is initiated by keeping the discharge            opening 86 open and closing off the flow through the three            inlet 58-62. This results in a downhill flow following the            slant of the floor 30 toward the discharge opening 86. After            most all of the liquid in the liquid containing region 82            has passed out the discharge opening 86, the flushing phase            begins. The time period of the draining phase can be            approximately one-half to three-quarters of a minute, but            this can be varied.    -   c) The Flushing Phase        -   The flushing phase is accomplished by leaving the discharge            opening 86 open and then starting the water flow through the            inlet openings 58-62. During the initial part of the            flushing phase and for some time thereafter, the velocity of            the water moving toward the rear wall 26 is at a high level,            and the remainder of the waste material is flushed down to            the discharge opening 86. The average time period of the            flushing phase can be about one-half of a minute to            three-quarters of a minute, but this also can be varied.    -   d) Water-fill and Chemical Injection Phase        -   To initiate this phase, the discharge opening 86 is closed            and fresh water continues to be discharged from the three            openings 58-62 into the liquid containing region 32, and            this continues for the length of time sufficient to fill the            region 32 to the proper liquid level. A short time after the            discharge opening 86 is closed (e.g., about twenty seconds)            the flow of chemical liquid is initiated by discharging the            chemical liquid from the openings 80 into the water that            flows into the liquid containing region 32. Since the water            being fed into the region 32 has essentially the same            circulating pattern as described above with regard to the            agitation phase, the chemical liquid becomes well-mixed in            the water.        -   As a possible alternative (or in addition to injecting the            chemical liquid into the liquid containing region 32), the            addition of the liquid chemicals could be done manually, and            the chemicals could be added in powder form to dissolve it            into the water.

Let us assume now that after the last cycle which is to be performed onthat particular day has been accomplished, and that the last group of150 cows have passed through the foot bath. At that time, the system iscaused to automatically shut down, and the power to the solenoid valve99 would be shut off. This would cause the pneumatic cylinder 96 toretract so that the discharge opening 86 would remain open. Thus, theurine that may be discharged from the cow into the liquid containingregion would flow out the drain valve 86. Further, If the area is beingmanually hosed down with water, water could be directed into the bathcontaining structure 22 and wash any collected manure and/or debris outthe discharge opening 86 to a drain.

Now, let us assume that the cycle which is to be started is the firstcycle in a series, which for example, with there being four cycles inthis series to accommodate 600 cows. In this situation, the same stepsare performed as indicated above. However, since the discharge opening86 has remained open, at the beginning of the agitation phase, the waterthat flows through the three inlet openings 58-62 flows into the liquidcontaining region without having the disinfectant liquid from the lastcycle in the region 32. Thus, the fresh water during this agitationphase would be flowing into the region 32 at a relatively high velocityand would serve the same function of dislodging the manure and otherdebris, and reducing it in particle size so that it is dischargedthrough the discharge opening 86. Then, the complete cycle continues asdescribed above.

Let us now consider the situation where possibly there are only 150-200cows to be milked and there would be no water fill and chemicalinjection phase at the end of the cycle. Rather, the system would beshut down at the completion of the flushing cycle, and (as indicatedpreviously) the discharge opening 86 would remain open.

Obviously, the various numerical values, dimensions, and designparameters which are noted above can vary, depending upon variouscircumstances. For example, while the two inlet openings 58 and 60 arein this preferred embodiment one-half inch in inside diameter (0.5inch), the inlet openings 58 and 60 could be 0.55 inch, 0.6 inch, 0.65inch, and upwardly in 0.05 inch increments up to possibly as great asone inch or greater. Also, the inlet openings of 58 and 60 could be madesmaller such as 0.45 inch, 0.4 inch, and downwardly by 0.05 inchincrements up to possibly as small as 0.25 inch or lower. Variousfactors could influence this, such as the velocity of the water, thenumber of inlet openings, etc.

Further, the dimensions of the central slot opening 22 could be madegreater or less in the length dimensions by increments of 0.05 inch from2.05 inch up to three or four inches, or at a lesser length of 1.95inch, 1.9 inch, and so forth down to possibly 1.0 inch or smaller. Inlike manner, the width dimension could be varied by 5% or 10% incrementsto two or three times the width dimension of one-sixteenth inch. Itcould also be reduced by these same percentage increments.

Further, while the preferred velocities have been given as about 7.75ft./sec. (for the inlet openings 58 and 60) and 3.3 ft./sec. for the(i.e. central opening 62) these can be varied by 0.5 ft./sec. incrementsupwardly or downwardly so that the velocity of the side inlet openings58 and 60 could be up as high as 15 ft./sec. or as low as 4 ft./sec. orconceivable 3 or 2 ft./sec., or any of these values in-between that aregiven in 0.5 ft./sec. increments, such as 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,14 or 15 ft./sec. or higher.

Also, the number of the inlet openings 58 and 60 could be varied andalso the placement of the same. For example, each inlet openings 58 and60 can be substituted by two or three inlet openings each, and the samecould be done for the central opening 62. Also, it could be that a pairof outside inlet openings could be placed more closely adjacent to thesidewalls 12, or more toward the longitudinal center line. Anotherpossibility is that one or more additional openings could be positionedon the sidewalls, possibly to create a stronger flow pattern closer tothe sidewall or influence on/off switch and turbulence in some manner.

Also, it should be pointed out that the arrangement of the inletopenings 58-62 have certain advantages in being positioned at one end ofthe foot bath structure 22. In many milking parlors, the path alongwhich the cows move in leaving the dairy parlor is often limited in itswidth dimension, and there may be a wall on one side and either anotherwall or various structures, such as pipes, etc., on the other side, andthus it is more difficult to place certain components. However, in someinstances, it may be practical (and possibly advantageous) to modify thepattern of jets so that one or more water inlets could be placed alongthe side walls 28. For example, as indicated above, the added jets couldbe used to direct additional water jets in a pattern to enhance thecurrent pattern, or be used in some other way to create a turbulentpattern in addition to the eddy current pattern described.

FIG. 10 shows the operating system of the present invention. In thissystem there are six timing devices. First, there is the autoflush/agitate timer, and this timer activates the other five timers,namely, the drain delay timer, the water timer, the chemical delaytimer, the chemical timer, and the water delay timer. Thus, when thisauto flush/agitate timer is activated, it initiates an entire singlecycle.

There is a seven-day clock which is set to initiate a cycle or a seriesof cycles on certain days of the week and at a selected time or times ofthe day. For example, as was done earlier in this text, let us assumethat the dairy farm has 600 cows. Thus, if there is one cycle for every150 cows, there would be four consecutive cycles for each day that thefoot bath apparatus is used. Let us further assume, for example, thatthe foot bath apparatus 20 is to be operated three days a week, such asMonday, Wednesday, and Friday, with the cycles beginning at 4:00 p.m. atthe start of the second milking. This seven-day clock would then startthe set of four cycles at 4:00 p.m., three times a week, at timedintervals (e.g., about one hour apart) so that on the average about 150cows would have passed through the foot bath before the next cyclebegins.

At the lower right-hand corner of the drawing is a terminal strip whichsupplies power to the various components. At the lower left-hand side ofthe drawing, there is a solenoid for the drain valve.

At the top center part of the drawing, there is the main on/off switch120 which controls the overall operation. To the left of the on/offswitch 120, there is a manual override switch 122 which when closed willinitiate a single cycle. At the upper right-hand portion of FIG. 10,there is the liquid chemical switch 124 that energizes the desiredchemical pump to direct the desired liquid chemicals into the liquidcontained region.

In operation, when the auto flush/agitate timer is activated, this willimmediately cause the drain delay timer and the water timer to beactivated to start the flow of water through the three water inlets58-62, and at the same time energize the drain delay timer to energizethe solenoid to open the discharge valve 88. This initiates theagitating phase portion. At the end of the time period for the agitatingportion of the cycle, the water delay timer operates to suspend theoperation of the water timer so that the water valve to the three wateropenings 58-62 closes for the drain period.

After the drain period, the water delay timer functions to enable thewater timer to again become operative to open the water valve 78 tocause the water to flow into the foot bath for about half-minute toaccomplish the flush phase. During this half-minute of the flush phase,the drain delay timer is still holding the outlet valve in its openposition. At the end of the flush phase, the drain delay timer causesthe outlet valve 88 to close, so that the water fill and chemicalinjection phase can take place. During this time, the water timer keepsthe main water valve open for the duration of the water fill. Also,during this water fill portion of the overall cycle, the chemical timeris activated to cause the flow of the liquid chemicals into the footbath. After there is adequate flow of the chemicals into the foot bath,the chemical delay timer shuts off the flow of the liquid chemicals.

When the water fill/chemical injection phase of the cycle is completed,and also with the inflow of the liquid chemicals completed, the overallcycle has ended. On the assumption that the seven-day clock is set toinitiate a subsequent cycle in the set of cycles, then this will becaused to occur in the selected time period (e.g., one hour) for thenext cycle to start.

It is to be understood that once the switch is turned on to start thecycle, the four phases of the cycle described immediately above takeplace automatically. Further, with the control apparatus with its timingsequences established for starting the next automatic cycle, there is noneed for any human action to start the next cycle.

As indicated above, one of the benefits of this invention isenvironment-related in that it keeps the dairyman or farmer further awayfrom this area. Also, the water inlet openings 58-62 serve severalfunctions. First, during the agitation phase as the water flows throughthe water inlets (water jets) 58-62 into the region 62, there are eddycurrents and other turbulence. As described above, this causes themanure and other debris to be loosened from the liquid containing regionand also be broken into smaller particles and caused to be suspended inthe liquid so that the liquid containing region is properly cleaned,with much of this waste material passing out the discharge opening.Second, they serve the function of providing the water during theflushing phase to flow at a sufficiently high velocity to wash theremaining manure. Third, the water inlets 58-62 have the function offilling the liquid containing region 32 with water. Fourth, during theperiod when the chemicals are being injected into the foot bath, theflow of the water with its turbulence and eddy currents properly mixesthe chemical solution.

Further, a significant benefit of the present invention arises from thefollowing situation. Usually, after about 150 to 200 cows have walkedthrough the foot bath, the disinfectant solution becomes much lesseffective. As a practical matter, if the dairyman has a herdsubstantially larger than 150 to 200 cows, the dairyman will quite oftennot take the time to change the water and disinfectant in the foot bathfor the cows that are entering the foot bath beyond the original 150 to200. The benefit of the present invention is that with the system beingautomatic, the following cycle after 150 or possibly 200 cows havepassed through takes place automatically. If for some reason theautomatic portion of the system is not operative, the operation for thenext 150 cows could be very easily initiated by pressing the startbutton and causing the system to go through its next cycle.

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown somewhatschematically in FIG. 11. Components of the second embodiment which arethe same as, or similar to, components of the first embodiment, will begiven like numerical designations, with a “a” suffix distinguishingthose of the second embodiment.

The apparatus 20a comprises the foot bath structure 22a which is thesame as, or similar to, the bath structure 22 of the first embodiment,and there are the same arrangements of the water inlet section 50a andthe outlet section 54a. There are the inlet openings which are (or maybe) the same as or similar to those of the first embodiment.

This second embodiment differs in that there are additional inletopenings 130 that are positioned at the side walls 28a. These inletopenings 130 could be directed in a downstream direction to enhance (oreffect in some other way) the flow paths 110 of the eddy currents, asshown in the first embodiment. Or, they could be directed in a manner tohave a more transverse component of travel. Further, it could bearranged so that these additional water inlet openings 130 could bearranged to emit their water jets periodically, and this could be donefor various reasons, such as modifying the flow temporarily for improveddislodging of the waste material or other reasons. Also, there is shownan additional water inlet opening 131 which could direct water into theregion 32 at a lower velocity during the fill phase.

A third embodiment is shown in FIG. 12, and components of this thirdembodiment which are similar to the first embodiment will be given likenumerical designations, with a “b” suffix distinguishing those of thesecond embodiment. Thus, the apparatus 20b comprises the foot bathstructure 22b with the four walls 24b-28b, and substantially the sameliquid inlet section 50b as described in the first embodiment.

However, the third embodiment differs in two ways. First, the dischargesection 54a has two discharge outlets 86b, each having its own controlvalve 88b. Further, the control section 98 of the first embodiment hasbeen replaced with a micro-processor 132. This micro computer 132 isprogrammed to accomplish the same basic functions as describedpreviously relative to the cycles of the apparatus 20, but otherfunctions or sequence of operation could be initiated. Also, some ofthese added functions or features could be added to take advantage ofthe two outlet openings 86b.

With regard to the added or modified functions, one of these couldproceed as follows. Instead of having the cycle start with the agitationphase, there would first be an initial draining phase, where one of thedischarge openings 86b could be opened to drain the liquid presently inthe liquid containing region 32b, but with the liquid inlet openings notoperating. This would permit a more undisturbed outflow of this liquid(which comprises both the water with the chemicals therein) to aseparate location, indicated schematically at 134. There could be atthis location 134 a tank to collect this liquid separately.

Then, the cycle would proceed as indicated previously herein where therewould be the agitation phase, the draining phase, and the flushingphase. During these three phases, the other discharge outlet 86b wouldbe open so that a substantial portion of the manure and other wastematerial would be directed to another location. Water that is being usedduring the agitation phase and the subsequent flushing phase is freshwater, the manure and other debris which is flowing with this water intothe other discharge opening 88b will be directed to another location,indicated schematically at 136. There may be some benefit in thisarrangement in treating each of these discharge portions in a differentmanner, possibly for recycling in some manner, or subsequent treatmentfor environmental reasons, or possible economies in the operation incertain respects.

Further, the micro-processor 132 could be operated in a manner toinitiate some portions of the cycle for sanitation purposes, and thiscould be done during periods where the apparatus 20 is not functioningin providing a disinfectant foot bath. For example, some manure andother material could be collecting in the liquid retaining region 32.This could happen if the cows are directed through the pathway in whichthe apparatus 20b is located. The agitation phase could be operated byitself, without any follow-up, and in this instance the water would beflowing through the inlet openings 58-62, the same as in the firstembodiment, with the second discharge opening 86b being open.Alternatively, an agitation phase, a draining phase, and then a flushingphase can be accomplished without any chemical injection into the freshwater. In this manner, there may be a more effective cleaning of theliquid containing region 32.

It is obvious that various other modifications can be made in thepresent invention without departing from the basic teachings thereof.The claims of the invention are intended to cover not only the specificconstruction and function of the components and also steps in the methodof the present invention, but also the equivalent components, designs,cycles, and steps or phases of these cycles.

1. An automated foot bath system for animals consisting of cows or otheranimals, said system comprising: a) a foot bath structure having a frontwall, a rear wall, two side walls and a floor, said foot bath structuredefining a liquid containing region comprising a front containing areaand a rear containing area, said foot hath structure being arranged topermit the animals to walk over the floor and through a foot bath liquidin the liquid containing region, b) a water inlet section arranged tosupply water to said liquid containing region water, and to supply atleast a portion of said water so as to be directed into said front watercontaining area and as high velocity jet flow to be able to cause a flowpattern in said liquid containing region of eddy current flow orturbulent flow, or a combination of eddy current flow and turbulentflow, with said high velocity jet flow being capable of moving wastematerial in said liquid containing region, c) a discharge section whichis at the rear containing region and which has a closed configuration tocontain liquid in said liquid containing region and an openconfiguration to discharge liquid from said liquid containing area, d) achemical supply section to provide a quantity of a chemical component asan ingredient of a foot bath liquid for the liquid containing region, e)a control section arranged to i) cause said water inlet section tooperate in a time frame to supply water to said liquid containing regionto cause said high velocity jet flow to move waste material in saidliquid containing region and to provide water as a constituent for footbath water in said liquid, ii) to cause said discharge section toselectively move between the closed and open configuration to containliquid or permit an outflow of liquid in the liquid containing region,and iii) to cause said chemical supply section to provide said quantityof said chemical component for said foot bath liquid.
 2. The system asrecited in claim 1, wherein said control section is arranged to operatein a cycle of operation through at least an agitation phase where saidwater inlet section supplies water as said high velocity jet flow tomove waste material in said liquid containing region, and for at leastpart of the time that the high velocity jet flow is taking place, thedischarge section is caused to be in its open configuration to enableliquid in the liquid containing region with waste material carriedtherein to be discharged from the liquid containing region.
 3. Thesystem as recited in claim 2, wherein there is in said cycle a drainingphase where the flow of high velocity liquid jet flow is at leastreduced or stopped by the control section, and said draining phase takesplace where said outlet section is in its open configuration to enableremaining liquid in the liquid containing region to be discharged fromthe liquid containing region.
 4. The system as recited in claim 3,wherein said control section operates so that said draining phase isfollowed by a flushing phase where the discharge section is in its openconfiguration, and the water inlet section is discharging water as saidhigh velocity jet flow to cause further removal of waste material in theliquid containing region.
 5. The system as recited in claim 2, whereinsaid cycle is arranged so that with foot bath liquid being alreadycontained in said liquid containing region, and with said contained footbath liquid being in condition to be removed from said liquid containingregion, said agitation phase is initiated by said control section bycausing the foot bath structure to discharge the water as said highvelocity jet flow, and also to cause said discharge section to be in itsopen configuration, so that waste material in said liquid containingregion is agitated to move waste material in the liquid containingregion in a circulating pattern and break down at least some of saidwaste material into smaller particle size, with there being a netdownstream flow from said inlet section to said discharge section. 6.The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the cycle further comprises adraining phase when the outlet section is in the open configuration anda fill and chemical injection phase in which subsequent to the agitationphase, and draining phase, said water inlet section discharges waterinto said liquid containing region and the quantity of the chemicalcomponent is injected as a chemical liquid into the water that isprovided for the liquid containing region.
 7. The system as recited inclaim 6, wherein the water inlet section discharges at least a portionof the water into the liquid containing region to be mixed with thewater in the liquid containing region in the flow pattern of the water.8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said water inlet section isprovided with at least first and second water inlet openings spacedlaterally from one another to direct water as said high velocity jetflow into said liquid containing region.
 9. The system as recited inclaim 8, wherein said foot bath structure is arranged with the liquidcontaining region having a front to rear longitudinal center axis and atransverse axis, and said liquid containing region has a lengthdimension along said longitudinal axis greater than a width along saidtransverse axis, said two inlet openings of the water inlet sectionbeing positioned at the front wall of the foot bath structure, facinggenerally in a rearward direction toward the rear wall, and being spacedlaterally from one another on opposite sides of said longitudinal centeraxis, so that the two inlet openings cause water streams to travel onopposite sides of said longitudinal axis and have a return flow path inan eddy current flow in a forward direction at a location closer to thelongitudinal center axis.
 10. The system as recited in claim 9, whereinsaid water inlet section has a third opening inlet which is positionedbetween said first and second liquid inlets and nearer to saidlongitudinal center axis, said third inlet opening directs a third flowof water in a generally longitudinally aligned direction.
 11. The systemas recited in claim 10, wherein said third inlet opening has a generallylaterally aligned slot-like configuration arranged to discharge water ina laterally expanding pattern toward flow streams generated by saidfirst and second high velocity jet flows from said first and secondinlet openings.
 12. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein there areat least two additional inlet openings of said water inlet section whichdischarge water in a high velocity jet flow mode into the liquidcontaining region.
 13. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein saidfirst and second inlet openings are located in, or adjacent to, saidfront wall of the foot bath structure, and said front wall has atransverse width dimension, said first and second inlet openings eachbeing spaced from the longitudinal center axis, at least a quarter of adistance between the longitudinal center axis of said liquid containingregion and an adjacent outer end portion of said front wall.
 14. Thesystem as recited in claim 13, wherein said first and second inletopenings are spaced from said longitudinal center axis at leastapproximately half the distance from the longitudinal center axis to theadjacent outer edge of the front wall.
 15. The system as recited inclaim 1, wherein said high velocity jet flow has a velocity of at leasttwo feet per second.
 16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein saidvelocity is at least as great about four feet per second.
 17. The systemas recited in claim 1, wherein said control system comprises a clockcomponent having operative connections to at least three components orcombination of components that in turn provide timing for activation ofthe water inlet section, the discharge section and the chemical supplysection to cause said water inlet section, said discharge section andsaid chemical supply section to operate in proper timed sequence. 18.The system as recited in claim 17, wherein said component or componentscontrol operation of said water inlet section to cause said water inletsection operate to discharge water in said high velocity flow modeduring an agitating phase, and to cause said discharge section to be inits open configuration during the agitation phase, to cause the waterinlet section to reduce or stop water flow in the high velocity jet flowmode during at least part of a draining phase where the dischargesection is in its open configuration, and to return to operating in thehigh velocity flow mode for a flushing phase with the discharge sectionbeing in its open configuration.
 19. The system as recited in claim 1,wherein said control section comprises a micro-computer to controloperation of said water inlet section to cause said water inlet sectionoperate to discharge water in said high velocity flow mode during anagitating phase, and to cause said discharge section to be in its openconfiguration during the agitation phase, to cause the water inletsection to reduce or stop water flow in a high velocity jet flow modeduring at least part of a draining phase where the discharge section isin its open configuration, and to return to operating in the highvelocity flow mode for a flushing phase with the discharge section beingin its open configuration.
 20. An automated foot bath system for animalsconsisting of cows or other animals, said system comprising: a) a footbath structure having a front wall, a rear wall, two side walls and afloor, said foot bath structure defining a liquid containing regioncomprising a front containing area and a rear containing area, said footbath structure being arranged to permit the animals to walk over thefloor and through a foot bath liquid in the liquid containing region, b)a water inlet section arranged to supply water to said liquid containingregion and to supply at least a portion of said water so as to bedirected into said front containing area, said water directed into saidfront containing area being capable of moving waste material in saidliquid containing region, c) a discharge section at the rear containingarea, said discharge section having a closed configuration to containliquid in said liquid containing region and an open configuration todischarge liquid from said liquid containing region, d) a chemicalsupply section to provide a quantity of a chemical component as aningredient of a foot bath liquid for the liquid containing region, e) acontrol section arranged to: i) cause said water inlet section tooperate in a time frame to supply water to said liquid containing regionto move waste material in said liquid containing region and to providewater as a constituent for foot bath water in said liquid, ii) causesaid discharge section to selectively move between the closed and openconfigurations to contain liquid in or permit an outflow of liquid fromthe liquid containing region, and iii) cause said chemical supplysection to provide said quantity of said chemical component for saidfoot bath liquid, wherein said control section is arranged to operate ina cycle of operation through at least an agitation phase where saidwater inlet section supplies water to move waste material in said liquidcontaining region, and for at least part of the time that the waterinlet section supplies water, the discharge section is caused to be inits open configuration to enable liquid in the liquid containing regionwith waste material carried therein to be discharged from the liquidcontaining region.
 21. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein thereis in said cycle a draining phase where the flow of liquid is at leastreduced or stopped by the control section, and said draining phase takesplace where said outlet section is in its open configuration to enableremaining liquid in the liquid containing region to be discharged fromthe liquid containing region.
 22. The system as recited in claim 21,wherein said control section operates so that said draining phase isfollowed by a flushing phase where the discharge section is in its openconfiguration, and the water inlet section is discharging water to causefurther removal of waste material in the liquid containing region. 23.The system as recited in claim 20, wherein said cycle is arranged sothat with foot bath liquid being already contained in said liquidcontaining region, and with said contained foot bath liquid being incondition to be removed from said liquid containing region, saidagitation phase is initiated by said control section by causing the footbath structure to discharge the water and also to cause said dischargesection to be in its open configuration, so that waste material in saidliquid containing region is agitated to move waste material in theliquid containing region in a circulating pattern and break down atleast some of said waste material into smaller particle size, with therebeing a net downstream flow from said inlet section to said dischargesection.
 24. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein the cyclefurther comprises a draining phase when the outlet section is in theopen configuration and a fill and chemical inject on phase in whichsubsequent to the agitation phase, and draining phase, said water inletsection discharges water into said liquid containing region and thequantity of the chemical component is injected as a chemical liquid intothe water that is provided for the liquid containing region.
 25. Thesystem as recited in claim 24, wherein the water inlet sectiondischarges at least a portion of the water into the liquid containingregion to be mixed with the water in the liquid containing region in theflow pattern of the water.
 26. The system as recited in claim 20,wherein said water inlet section is provided with at least first andsecond water inlet openings spaced laterally from one another to directwater into said liquid containing region.
 27. An automated foot bathsystem for animals consisting of cows or other animals, said systemcomprising: a) a foot bath structure having a front wall, a rear wall,two side walls and a floor, said foot bath structure defining a liquidcontaining region comprising a front containing area and a rearcontaining area, said foot bath structure being arranged to permit theanimals to walk over the floor and through a foot bath liquid in theliquid containing region, b) a water inlet section arranged to supplywater to said liquid containing region and to supply at least a portionof said water so as to be directed into said front containing area, saidwater directed into said front containing area being capable of movingwaste material in said liquid containing region, c) a discharge sectionat the rear containing area, said discharge section having a closedconfiguration to contain liquid in said liquid containing region and anopen configuration to discharge liquid from said liquid containingregion, d) a chemical supply section to provide a quantity of a chemicalcomponent as an ingredient of a foot bath liquid for the liquidcontaining region, e) a control section arranged to: i) cause said waterinlet section to operate in a time frame to supply water to said liquidcontaining region to move waste material in said liquid containingregion and to provide water as a constituent for foot bath water in saidliquid, ii) cause said discharge section to selectively move between theclosed and open configurations to contain liquid in or permit an outflowof liquid from the liquid containing region, and iii) cause saidchemical supply section to provide said quantity of said chemicalcomponent for said foot bath liquid, wherein said water inlet section isprovided with at least first and second water inlet openings spacedlaterally from one another to direct water into said liquid containingregion, wherein said foot bath structure is arranged with the liquidcontaining region having a front to rear longitudinal center axis and atransverse axis, and said liquid containing region has a lengthdimension along said longitudinal axis greater than a width along saidtransverse axis, said two inlet openings of the water inlet sectionbeing positioned at the front wall of the foot bath structure, facinggenerally in a rearward direction toward the rear wall, and being spacedlaterally from one another on opposite sides of said longitudinal centeraxis, so that the two inlet openings cause water streams to travel onopposite sides of said longitudinal axis and have a return flow path ina forward direction at a location closer to the longitudinal centeraxis.
 28. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein said water inletsection has a third opening inlet which is positioned between said firstand second liquid inlets and nearer to said longitudinal center axis,said third inlet opening directs a third flow of water in a generallylongitudinally aligned direction.
 29. The system as recited in claim 28,wherein said third inlet opening has a generally laterally alignedslot-like configuration arranged to discharge water in a laterallyexpanding pattern toward flow streams generated by said first and secondflows from said first and second inlet openings.
 30. The system asrecited in claim 27, wherein there are at least two additional inletopenings of said water inlet section which discharge water into theliquid containing region.
 31. The system as recited in claim 27, whereinsaid first and second inlet openings are located in, or adjacent to,said front wall of the foot bath structure, and said front wall has atransverse width dimension, said first and second inlet openings eachbeing spaced from the longitudinal center axis at least a quarter of adistance between the longitudinal center axis of said liquid containingregion and an adjacent outer end portion of said front wall.
 32. Thesystem as recited in claim 31, wherein said first and second inletopenings are spaced from said longitudinal center axis at leastapproximately half the distance from the longitudinal center axis to theadjacent outer edge of the front wall.
 33. The system as recited inclaim 27, wherein said water directed into said front containing areahas a velocity of at least two feet per second.
 34. The system asrecited in claim 27, wherein said water directed into said frontcontaining area has a velocity of at least four feet per second.
 35. Anautomated foot bath system for animals consisting of cows or otheranimals, said system comprising: a) a foot bath structure having a frontwall, a rear wall, two side walls and a floor, said foot bath structuredefining a liquid containing region comprising a front containing areaand a rear containing area, said foot bath structure being arranged topermit the animals to walk over the floor and through a foot bath liquidin the liquid containing region, b) a water inlet section arranged tosupply water to said liquid containing region and to supply at least aportion of said water so as to be directed into said front containingarea, said water directed into said front containing area being capableof moving waste material in said liquid containing region, c) adischarge section at the rear containing area, said discharge sectionhaving a closed configuration to contain liquid in said liquidcontaining region and an open configuration to discharge liquid fromsaid liquid containing region, d) a chemical supply section to provide aquantity of a chemical component as an ingredient of a foot bath liquidfor the liquid containing region, e) a control section arranged to: i)cause said water inlet section to operate in a time frame to supplywater to said liquid containing region to move waste material in saidliquid containing region and to provide water as a constituent for footbath water in said liquid, ii) cause said discharge section toselectively move between the closed and open configurations to containliquid in or permit an outflow of liquid from the liquid containingregion, and iii) cause said chemical supply section to provide saidquantity of said chemical component for said foot bath liquid, whereinsaid control system comprises a clock component having operativeconnections to at least three components or combination of componentsthat in turn provide timing for activation of the water inlet section,the discharge section and the chemical supply section to cause saidwater inlet section, said discharge section and said chemical supplysection to operate in proper timed sequence.
 36. The system as recitedin claim 35, wherein said component or components control operation ofsaid water inlet section to cause said water inlet section to dischargewater directed into said front containing area at a velocity of at leasttwo feet per second during an agitating phase, and to cause saiddischarge section to be in its open configuration during the agitationphase, to cause the water inlet section to reduce or stop water flowduring at least part of a draining phase where the discharge section isin its open configuration, and to return to discharging water directedinto said front containing area at a velocity of at least two feet persecond for a flushing phase with the discharge section being in its openconfiguration.
 37. An automated foot bath system for animals consistingof cows or other animals, said system comprising: a) a foot bathstructure having a front wall, a rear wall, two side walls and a floor,said foot bath structure defining a liquid containing region comprisinga front containing area and a rear containing area, said foot bathstructure being arranged to permit the animals to walk over the floorand through a foot bath liquid in the liquid containing region, b) awater inlet section arranged to supply water to said liquid containingregion and to supply at least a portion of said water so as to bedirected into said front containing area, said water directed into saidfront containing area being capable of moving waste material in saidliquid containing region, c) a discharge section at the rear containingarea, said discharge section having a closed configuration to containliquid in said liquid containing region and an open configuration todischarge liquid from said liquid containing region, d) a chemicalsupply section to provide a quantity of a chemical component as aningredient of a foot bath liquid for the liquid containing region, e) acontrol section arranged to: i) cause said water inlet section tooperate in a time frame to supply water to said liquid containing regionto move waste material in said liquid containing region and to providewater as a constituent for foot bath water in said liquid, ii) causesaid discharge section to selectively move between the closed and openconfigurations to contain liquid in or permit an outflow of liquid fromthe liquid containing region, and iii) cause said chemical supplysection to provide said quantity of said chemical component for saidfoot bath liquid, wherein said control section comprises amicro-computer to control operation of said water inlet section to causesaid water inlet section to discharge water into said front containingarea at a velocity of at least two feet per second during an agitatingphase, and to cause said discharge section to be in its openconfiguration during the agitation phase, to cause the water inletsection to reduce or stop water flow during at least part of a drainingphase where the discharge section is in its open configuration, and toreturn to discharging water directed into said front containing area ata velocity of at least two feet per second for a flushing phase with thedischarge section being in its open configuration.